Brian Hooker's Messages Revealed Following Wife's Disappearance in Bahamas

Brian Hooker communicated with a friend the day after his wife, Lacey Hooker, disappeared during a nighttime boat ride in the Bahamas, according to CBS News. In messages, Hooker reportedly told his friend that his wife attempted to swim back to their sailboat after apparently falling overboard. Lacey Hooker, 44, was last seen on November 13, 2023, near the Abaco Islands. Her husband, Brian Hooker, 51, reported her missing to the U.S. Coast Guard, stating she went overboard from their 60-foot catamaran, 'Saga', around 4 a.m. while he was asleep. He claimed he woke up at 5 a.m. to find her gone and immediately began searching.

CBS News reported that Brian Hooker's friend, who wished to remain anonymous, shared text messages and a phone call transcript with the outlet. In these communications, Hooker described the events leading to his wife's disappearance. He stated that Lacey had consumed alcohol and was sitting on the boat's back deck when she fell. He recounted that she tried to swim back to the vessel but was unable to reach it. He also mentioned that the wind was strong, stating, "The wind blew me away." The friend expressed concern about the timeline and details provided by Hooker, noting inconsistencies in his account.

Further details from the CBS News report indicate that the couple had been living on their boat for several months, sailing through the Caribbean. Lacey Hooker's family has expressed distress and skepticism regarding Brian's account, particularly his delay in reporting her missing and the circumstances he described. The Royal Bahamas Police Force and the U.S. Coast Guard are involved in the ongoing investigation into Lacey Hooker's disappearance. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not publicly commented on the specifics of Brian Hooker's statements to his friend.